The History of Chinese Dance
The history of Chinese dance goes back more than 5000 years. As in many cultures around the world, early Chinese dances were a religious expression. Over the years, simple Chinese folk dances developed into intricate and beautiful performance pieces that are still performed by Chinese groups worldwide.
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History
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For thousands of years, each Chinese dance was unique to the village or group that developed it. There were 50 different ethnic groups in China who each developed their own dances. The dances were not centralized or recorded until the Han dynasty, which ruled from 206 B.C. until A.D. 220. During the Han dynasty, the imperial family established a musical court that served to bring all of the dances to one place where they could be documented. Soon the folk dances of the various villages and ethnic groups were enhanced into court versions.
Development
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Chinese dance developed and grew during the T'ang dynasty from AD 618 until AD 907. According to the Cultural Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, the T'ang dynasty gathered "the top dancing talent of the country to perform the magnificent, stately and incomparably lavish "Ten Movement Music" dance... It featured intricate body movement techniques, and made full use of colorful, gala stage costumes and props to set off the refined dance movements. Poetry, songs, a dramatic plot and background music were incorporated to create a comprehensive multimedia production rich in content and fanfare."
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Influences
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Dance developed rapidly during the T'ang dynasty because of the economic prosperity of the era, which was a result of trading with India, Korea and other Asian countries as well as Rome. As China began to trade with these countries, dances were influenced by the cultures of the visiting traders. During this period, Chinese dance was also heavily influenced by its interaction with the other arts. For example, props and costumes became important elements of Chinese dance.
Types
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There are four types of traditional Chinese dance. The New York Chinese Cultural Center identifies these as "(1) Ceremonial; for praying to the gods for bountiful harvests,(2) Dramatic; for reporting and commemorating historical events, (3) Martial; for demonstrating fighting techniques, and (4) Agricultural; for celebrating nature and work." These types are still expressed in performances by the Peking Opera and other groups.
Features
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Chinese dances differ from European traditional dances in many ways. The Nai-Ne Chen dance company lists the unique characteristics of Chinese dance in a study guide. "Emphasis on hand and eye coordination, use of circular patterns in space with every part of the body, extensive use of props, stylized steps and gestures, unique emphasis on movement accents in relation to the music." In contrast, European dances such as ballet emphasize long lines and a different sense of musicality.
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References
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- Photo Credit chinese drama image by chinatiger from Fotolia.com
